University of Hong Kong – Max Planck PhD Studentship in Population Studies in Rostock

About the position

We are pleased to invite applications for a4-yearPhD position at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and at the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR). The position is jointly funded by the Faculty of Social Sciences/HKU Research Hub of Population Studies and the Department of Digital and Computational Demography at MPIDR.

Application Deadline: December 1, 2026

The University of Hong Kong is widely considered one of the top universities in Asia and in the world. The HKU Research Hub of Population Studies, launched by the Faculty of Social Sciences, aims to provide an understanding of local, national, regional, and international demographic patterns. The Hub focuses on multi-disciplinary research concerning various population-related issues and public policy, addressing the global needs for theoretical, methodological, and practical advancements in population and health research, building upon the expertise of academics across the Faculty of Social Sciences.

The Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (MPIDR) is one of the world’s leading demographic research centres. Institute scientists advance fundamental research in areas related to migration, longevity, and fertility, and study issues of policy relevance, such as demographic change, aging, health, intergenerational transfers, as well as the digitalization of life. Methodologically, they use novel data sources and advanced statistical and computational methods for understanding demographic dynamics. The MPIDR is part of the Max Planck Society, a network of more than 80 institutes that form Germany’s premier basic-research organization. Max Planck Institutes have an established record of world-class, foundational research in the sciences, technology, social sciences and the humanities. They offer a unique environment that combines the best aspects of an academic setting and a research laboratory.

This PhD position is an excellent opportunity for highly motivated and qualified candidates who are interested in the opportunities offered by the best of both worlds: a world-class university in Asia and a top-notch research institute in Europe. Upon successfully completing the PhD position, the applicant will be awarded a degree from HKU, having gained significant experience in conducting demographic research abroad.

The successful applicants to this program will

• be registered as full-time PhD students at HKU but are expected to enrol in International Max Planck Research School for Population, Health, and Data Science from the beginning of their doctoral training at HKU;
• be required to meet the admission requirements of both institutions;
• be co-supervised by supervisors at both institutions;
• spend the first 2 years in Hong Kong at HKU. They will work in a vibrant community of PhD students and researchers in the HKU Research Hub of Population Studies in the Faculty of Social Sciences. The following 2 years of the studentship will be spent in Germany, at the MPIDR, in the Department of Digital and Computational Demography. Within the Department, the student will be affiliated with the Lab of Migration and Mobility or the Lab of Population Dynamics and Sustainable Well-being, depending on interest and fit. This would provide further opportunities for training and networking.
• Submit a single thesis to HKU, which will be examined following existing rules and guidelines at HKU.

The studentship is not limited to specific topics. We encourage applications from candidates interested in exploring population-related topics that match with the research strengths of faculty associated with the HKU Research Hub of Population Studies and researchers based at the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research.

Eligibility

Please visit the HKU website for the admission requirements for the PhD Program as well as the program website for specific details on the Joint Educational Placement for PhD with the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research.

Applicants must 1) submit a full application for PhD admission to HKU through the HKU's Online Application System (Form A) by December 1, 2026 at 23:59 HK Time (GMT +8 hours) and obtain a HKU application reference number; 2) submit an online application for the University of Hong Kong—Max Planck PhD Studentship in Population Studies through the program website (Form B) by December 1, 2026 and quote the HKU application number. Successful candidate(s) for this Studentship Scheme would be accepted for a PhD position at HKU, and are expected to arrive in Hong Kong at the end of August 2027, as the program starts in September.

Please refer to the HKU Website for allrequired supporting documents at the time of submission for Form A, as incomplete applications may not be considered. In addition to all documents required by the HKU Graduate School, please upload the following documents for the online application for the Studentship Program (Form B):

• An academic CV, summarising your employment history, publications and highlighting experience demonstrating your research potential.
• A personal statement of 800 to 1000 words indicating why you are interested in the Joint Educational Placement for PhD with the MPIDR. Explain how your focus, experience, and skills are a good fit for the program.
• A PhD proposal summary outlining the potential focus of the project to be undertaken during the PhD training (maximum: two pages, condensed form of the main proposal application used on the graduate school form).

For informal enquiries, please contact Guy Abel, Associate Director of the HKU Hub of Population Studies (guyabel@hku.hk) or Emilio Zagheni, Director at the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research (zagheni@demogr.mpg.de).

Funding notes

During the period at HKU, selected full-time PhD students will receive a Postgraduate Scholarship(PGS). The basic level of PGS is HK$19,135 per month. Additional financial support, such as travel and conference funding will also be offered.

During the period in Germany, the student will receive a gross salary of EUR 40,617 per annum and financial support for travel, training and data acquisition. The International Max Planck Research School for Population, Health, and Data Science (IMPRS-PHDS) would provide support for travel to/from Rostock to attend recommended training activities of the school, like the Annual Academy that brings together all students in the network.

Students in this Studentship Program will pay an annual composition fee. The composition fee for full-time PhD studies will be HK$49,500 in 2027/28 and may change subject to the prevailing rate of the year of study. For the latest information, please visit the HKU Graduate School's website. Students will need to pay the relevant fees to HKU throughout the four years of their PhD studies. There are no fees to be paid to MPIDR.

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